Chablbs w



(No Model.)

G. W. CLARK.

RETURN BALL,

No. 289,221. Patented Nov. 2'7, 1883.

N. PETEns Phmvlflhogrzphar. Wmmmm D. c.

CHARLES W. CLARK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LAURA MURRAY, OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT Fries.

RETU RN-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,221, dated November 27, 1883.

Application filed October 22, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Return-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a toy known to the trade as a return-ball. WVooden balls have for a long time beenused suspended by a rubber string or cord; but they are objectionable, first, because the weight of the ball breaksthe string; second, because of the hardness of the ball, preventing elasticity and injuring the childs hands. Return-balls have also been made where the main body or filling was of sawdust and the covering of paper; but these are not salable, because of the liability of the paper to burst and the sawdust to leak out.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, durable ball which is soft and semi elastic in its nature, and of sufficient lightness to overcome the objections occasioned by the use of wooden and sawdust return-balls, which I accomplish by the use of eXcelsior filling, all of which will be fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement when finished. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the filling or solid portion of the ball. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the exoelsior filling on line a: m, Fig. 2.

A represents exeelsior or other similar light fibrous material, which is pounded into shape in a die or mortar to form the ball.

a represents a cavity which is left in thetop portion of the ball after it has been pounded into shape. This may be filled with bran,

sawdust, soft paper, or other similar articles, simply to round it off and give a better appearance to the body, which I prefer to cover as follows: After the cavity a has been filled,

(N0 model.)

which gives -a finished appearance to theball. Tissue-paper is not strong enough, as a rule, to be used alone as a covering for the excelsior; but very strong th1n paper may be employed, as the eXcelsior, when properly pounded into shape, will maintain the same under all ordinary uses. I sometimes prefer to cover the body A a with thin muslin, and then wind the strings round the same, as shown in the drawings, Fig. 1.

(1 represents the rubber suspension-string, which is attached to the network of strings or cord (1, as shown.

I do not desire to limit myself to the use of excelsior, as other similar semi-elastic substances may be used in lieu thereof; but that I deem the cheapest and best.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Areturn-ball the body of which is formed of excelsior and covered with tissue-paper or its described equivalent, which is secured by means of the string d, substantially as herein specified.

2. A return-ball thefilling of which is made of excelsior or its described equivalent, pounded into shape and covered with tissue-paper or its described equivalent.- and adapted to be suspended upon a rubber string, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES W. CLARK.

WVitnesses:

JNo. E. JoNEs, A. GLUoHowsKY. 

